Yes, I know what the Reign of Internet Terror I'm likely bringing on myself. So be it. Ask questions. If even one person stops and thinks more about mental illness. It's worth it to me.

Saint Augustine FL

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Part Three: 11 months later this now 17 year old petitioned the family court system again to be allowed out. Her petition was granted. Five days later she fractured her mother’s skull and her brother’s cheekbone as he tried to save their mother. This time, she was actually arrested and placed in the criminal mental ward of LA County/UCLA Medical Center. The parents were sitting on unpaid bills of $196,000 after all insurance coverage and she was convicted in juvenile court but ruled mentally ill and became a ward of the state. Upon turning 18 she was released and all record both criminal and psychiatric as a minor was sealed. (Essentially erased) She seemed to be fairly stable and had completed HS with very impressive scores and was accepted to University. Since then, she graduated with her degree, had a baby by an unknown father, gave baby up, never held a job for long, been homeless, been sick, come home, been thrown out of home, fought any number of commitment attempts, beat any number of minor crime convictions, been addicted to any number of things, loved her family, committed violence on almost every single family member, taken her medicine, not taken her medicine, been on any number of different public doles and now although able in body is on SSDI and Medicaid presumably for life. She has given people great joy and great tragedy. She is not an animal, she is a human being. However, she is a diagnosed sociopath. Her name is Sara. She is my daughter.

Saint Augustine FL

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Part Two: A short time later, she got into more serious trouble at school. In an effort to avoid the disciplinary measures, she immediately accused the “step” father of child abuse. Mandatory reporting required an immediate and exhaustive investigation. Fortunately, over the 2 week process there was ample documentation that the two distinct round bruises on upper buttocks were the result of two shots for throat infection several days before the allegation. The family physician, the psyche specialists, neighbors and her four siblings statements said there was zero reason to believe she was abused by either custodial parents and the psych statements said habitual lying to avoid consequences were a portion of her “mild personality disorder”. When the investigation was cleared the school again attempted to enforce discipline. She immediately threatened suicide and her mother rushed to the school and then to the mental health practice. The psychiatrist recommended to be safe a 72 hour admittance into a private hospital and she consented voluntarily. Within 24 hours she had her first known violent episode against another human. There were several more and at the conclusion based on strong evidence her mother signed temporary commitment papers. Her mother and father also immediately began due diligence to ensure they had her in the best private hospital close enough to home for regular visits and family sessions. After four months she petitioned child advocacy to be released. Despite ample evidence a child welfare judge declared she had problems but was not dangerous and was largely misunderstood based on his interview with her. Things went up and down for four months; often she would refuse to take her medication. It would be worse then. She would threaten physical violence when told she had to go to school or a privilege was denied her. Then she attacked her mother with scissors one night. Her dad held tackled her but could not calm her. Eventually there was no choice but to call for help and she was returned to the hospital. Ultimately, she was diagnosed as “character disordered” and it was felt a more specialized hospital which was farther away would be beneficial. In the meantime the mental health care coverage of the insurance policy was almost totally used up for that year. The mother had petitioned the real father to force insurance through his employer and also a review was underway for the secondary insurance her parents carried to kick in. The private hospital didn’t feel like being patient and would not accept a financial ability and guarantee statement from the parents. However the county hospital said the mother made too much money. Her parents refused to bring her home and CPS turned up to tell them if they didn’t on the basis they couldn’t keep their other children safe and healthy in the home with her present, ALL the children would be removed. Two weeks later she killed her sister’s new puppy and the second hospital agreed to take her pending insurance approval if her mother signed a promissory note with the family home as the guarantee.

Saint Augustine FL

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I thought of whether this should be posted in open forum as it does regard health or here because it's bound to bring up political views. It certainly has been featured heavily in two different threads and I've made several statements of how woefully misinformed we are about the many manifistation of mental illness and how each can have varying degrees of severity and success at control. I'll start with a little story. Part One: A perfect child was born in 1975. She was physically very beautiful and as her development progressed showed to be extremely advanced. As time went on she was also widely lauded as incredibly witty, sweet and charming. She didn’t have an ideal life; she faced one upset/hardship common to a significant portion of the population. When she was 4 her parents divorced. Ultimately both her parents remarried. Her mother to a man she adored and she and her two brothers joined a new brother and sister in a blended family. Her natural father, by his own choice made only sporadic contact with her. When she was 9, her biological brothers and she visited their father and his new family for the first time. When she returned that summer, she was different. Nothing extreme, an occasional belligerence she’d never had before. She was quicker to temper, less willing to talk about things and an almost cynical personality at times. Her concerned parents tried hard to talk to her and had her see both their family physician and the school psychologist. Both assured the parents it was just a normal “phase”. Life went on with ups and downs, especially when puberty reared its ugly head. When she was 13 her biological father requested his summer visitation rights again. When she returned she was a very different child. She would occasionally go into rages where she would trash her siblings rooms or belongings, could be quite physical and rough during normal play and sports. She became secretive, desired to usually dress somewhat Goth, could be extremely foul mouthed, her parents had concerns she was free with her body and there were a couple episodes of being with a crowd and drinking. At school she had a few incidences of behavior that was disruptive. Certainly none worse than the class clown, bully, diva, etc. She still had straight A’s and was active in extracurricular. Her parents were very active with the school and parent organization so they were more aware than most of her activities and behaviors as well as that of their other 4 children. They decided family counseling was in order just to be safe. Both a psychologist and a psychiatrist did feel the child had either developed or been born with a mild disorder but initially approached it as non-specific and maybe or maybe not also physiological in origin. They explained that mental illness, just like alcoholism, drug abuse, etc. usually does have physiological reasons as well. So batteries of tests were conducted. At the time all were non-conclusive. Again, this is not unusual.